the oregon trail-第11部分

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rvening　swell　　soon　hid　them　from　sight；　until；　ascending　it　a　quarter　of　an　hour　　after；　we　saw　close　before　us　the　emigrant　caravan；　with　its　heavy　　white　wagons　creeping　on　in　their　slow　procession；　and　a　large　drove　　of　cattle　following　behind。　　Half　a　dozen　yellow…visaged　Missourians；　　mounted　on　horseback；　were　cursing　and　shouting　among　them；　their　　lank　angular　proportions　enveloped　in　brown　homespun；　evidently　cut　　and　adjusted　by　the　hands　of　a　domestic　female　tailor。　　As　we　　approached；　they　greeted　us　with　the　polished　salutation：　〃How　are　　ye；　boys？　　Are　ye　for　Oregon　or　California？〃　As　we　pushed　rapidly　past　the　wagons；　children's　faces　were　thrust　　out　from　the　white　coverings　to　look　at　us；　while　the　care…worn；　　thin…featured　matron；　or　the　buxom　girl；　seated　in　front；　suspended　　the　knitting　on　which　most　of　them　were　engaged　to　stare　at　us　with　　wondering　curiosity。　　By　the　side　of　each　wagon　stalked　the　　proprietor；　urging　on　his　patient　oxen；　who　shouldered　heavily　along；　　inch　by　inch；　on　their　interminable　journey。　　It　was　easy　to　see　that　　fear　and　dissension　prevailed　among　them；　some　of　the　menbut　these；　　with　one　exception；　were　bachelorslooked　wistfully　upon　us　as　we　　rode　lightly　and　swiftly　past；　and　then　impatiently　at　their　own　　lumbering　wagons　and　heavy…gaited　oxen。　　Others　were　unwilling　to　　advance　at　all　until　the　party　they　had　left　behind　should　have　　rejoined　them。　　Many　were　murmuring　against　the　leader　they　had　　chosen；　and　wished　to　depose　him；　and　this　discontent　was　fermented　　by　some　ambitious　spirits；　who　had　hopes　of　succeeding　in　his　place。　　　The　women　were　divided　between　regrets　for　the　homes　they　had　left　　and　apprehension　of　the　deserts　and　the　savages　before　them。　We　soon　left　them　far　behind；　and　fondly　hoped　that　we　had　taken　a　　final　leave；　but　unluckily　our　companions'　wagon　stuck　so　long　in　a　　deep　muddy　ditch　that；　before　it　was　extricated；　the　van　of　the　　emigrant　caravan　appeared　again；　descending　a　ridge　close　at　hand。　　　Wagon　after　wagon　plunged　through　the　mud；　and　as　it　was　nearly　noon；　　and　the　place　promised　shade　and　water；　we　saw　with　much　　gratification　that　they　were　resolved　to　encamp。　　Soon　the　wagons　　were　wheeled　into　a　circle；　the　cattle　were　grazing　over　the　meadow；　　and　the　men　with　sour；　sullen　faces；　were　looking　about　for　wood　and　　water。　　They　seemed　to　meet　with　but　indifferent　success。　　As　we　left　　the　ground；　I　saw　a　tall　slouching　fellow　with　the　nasal　accent　of　　〃down　east；〃　contemplating　the　contents　of　his　tin　cup；　which　he　had　　just　filled　with　water。　〃Look　here；　you；〃　he　said；　〃it's　chock　full　of　animals！〃　The　cup；　as　he　held　it　out；　exhibited　in　fact　an　extraordinary　　variety　and　profusion　of　animal　and　vegetable　life。　Riding　up　the　little　hill　and　looking　back　on　the　meadow；　we　could　　easily　see　that　all　was　not　right　in　the　camp　of　the　emigrants。　　The　　men　were　crowded　together；　and　an　angry　discussion　seemed　to　be　going　　forward。　　R。　was　missing　from　his　wonted　place　in　the　line；　and　the　　captain　told　us　that　he　had　remained　behind　to　get　his　horse　shod　by　　a　blacksmith　who　was　attached　to　the　emigrant　party。　　Something　　whispered　in　our　ears　that　mischief　was　on　foot；　we　kept　on；　however；　　and　coming　soon　to　a　stream　of　tolerable　water；　we　stopped　to　rest　　and　dine。　　Still　the　absentee　lingered　behind。　　At　last；　at　the　　distance　of　a　mile；　he　and　his　horse　suddenly　appeared；　sharply　　defined　against　the　sky　on　the　summit　of　a　hill；　and　close　behind；　a　　huge　white　object　rose　slowly　into　view。　〃What　is　that　blockhead　bringing　with　him　now？〃　A　moment　dispelled　the　mystery。　　Slowly　and　solemnly　one　behind　the　　other；　four　long　trains　of　oxen　and　four　emigrant　wagons　rolled　over　　the　crest　of　the　declivity　and　gravely　descended；　while　R。　rode　in　　state　in　the　van。　　It　seems　that；　during　the　process　of　shoeing　the　　horse；　the　smothered　dissensions　among　the　emigrants　suddenly　broke　　into　open　rupture。　　Some　insisted　on　pushing　forward；　some　on　　remaining　where　they　were；　and　some　on　going　back。　　Kearsley；　their　　captain；　threw　up　his　command　in　disgust。　　〃And　now；　boys；〃　said　he；　　〃if　any　of　you　are　for　going　ahead；　just　you　come　along　with　me。〃　Four　wagons；　with　ten　men；　one　woman；　and　one　small　child；　made　up　　the　force　of　the　〃go…ahead〃　faction；　and　R。；　with　his　usual　　proclivity　toward　mischief；　invited　them　to　join　our　party。　　Fear　of　　the　Indiansfor　I　can　conceive　of　no　other　motivemust　have　induced　　him　to　court　so　burdensome　an　alliance。　　As　may　well　be　conceived；　　these　repeated　instances　of　high…handed　dealing　sufficiently　　exasperated　us。　　In　this　case；　indeed；　the　men　who　joined　us　were　all　　that　could　be　desired；　rude　indeed　in　manner；　but　frank；　manly；　and　　intelligent。　　To　tell　them　we　could　not　travel　with　them　was　of　　course　out　of　the　question。　　I　merely　reminded　Kearsley　that　if　his　　oxen　could　not　keep　up　with　our　mules　he　must　expect　to　be　left　　behind；　as　we　could　not　consent　to　be　further　delayed　on　the　journey；　　but　he　immediately　replied；　that　his　oxen　〃SHOULD　keep　up；　and　if　　they　couldn't；　why　he　allowed　that　he'd　find　out　how　to　make　'em！〃　　　Having　availed　myself　of　what　satisfaction　could　be　derived　from　　giving　R。　to　understand　my　opinion　of　his　conduct；　I　returned　to　our　　side　of　the　camp。　On　the　next　day；　as　it　chanced；　our　English　companions　broke　the　　axle…tree　of　their　wagon；　and　down　came　the　whole　cumbrous　machine　　lumbering　into　the　bed　of　a　brook！　　Here　was　a　day's　work　cut　out　for　　us。　　Meanwhile；　our　emigrant　associates　kept　on　their　way；　and　so　　vigorously　did　they　urge　forward　their　powerful　oxen　that；　with　the　　broken　axle…tree　and　other　calamities；　it　was　full　a　week　before　we　　overtook　them；　when　at　length　we　discovered　them；　one　afternoon；　　crawling　quietly　along　the　sandy　brink　of　the　Platte。　　But　meanwhile　　various　incidents　occurred　to　ourselves。　It　was　probable　that　at　this　stage　of　our　journey　the　Pawnees　would　　attempt　to　rob　us。　　We　began　therefore　to　stand　guard　in　turn；　　dividing　the　night　into　three　watches；　and　appointing　two　men　for　　each。　　Delorier　and　I　held　guard　together。　　We　did　not　march　with　　military　precision　to　and　fro　before　the　tents；　our　discipline　was　by　　no　means　so　stringent　and　rigid。　　We　wrapped　ourselves　in　our　　blankets；　and　sat　down　by　the　fire；　and　Delorier；　combining　his　　culinary　functions　with　his　duties　as　sentinel；　employed　himself　in　　boiling　the　head　of　an　antelope　for　our　morning's　repast。　　Yet　we　　were　models　of　vigilance　in　comparison　with　some　of　the　party；　for　　the　ordinary　practice　of　the　guard　was　to　establish　himself　in　the　　most　comfortable　posture　he　could；　lay　his　rifle　on　the　ground；　and　　enveloping　his　nose　in　the　blanket；　meditate　on　his　mistress；　or　　whatever　subject　best　pleased　him。　　This　is　all　well　enough　when　　among　Indians　who　do　not　habitually　proceed　further　in　their　　hostility　than　robbing　travelers　of　their　horses　and　mules；　though；　　indeed；　a　Pawnee's　forebearance　is　not　always　to　be　trusted；　but　in　　certain　regions　farther　to　the　west；　the　guard　must　beware　how　he　　exposes　his　person　to　the　light　of　the　fire；　lest　perchance　some　　keen…eyed　skulking　marksman　should　let　fly　a　bullet　or　an　arrow　from　　amid　the　darkness。　Among　various　tales　that　circulated　around　our　camp　fire　was　a　rather　　curious　one；　told　by　Boisverd；　and　not　inappropriate　here。　　Boisverd　　was　trapping　with　several　companions　on　the　skirts　of　the　Blackfoot　　country。　　The　man　on　guard；　well　knowing　that　it　behooved　him　to　put　　forth　his　utmost　precaution；　kept　aloof　from　the　firelight；　and　sat　　watching　intently　on　all　sides。　　At　length　he　was　aware　of　a　dark；　　crouching　figure；　stealing　noiselessly　into　the　circle　of　the　light。　　　He　hastily　cocked　his　rifle；　but　the　sharp　click　of　the　lock　caught　　the　ear　of　Blackfoot；　whose　senses　were　all　on　the　alert。　　Raising　　his　arrow；　already　fitted　to　the　string；　he　shot　in　the　direction　of　　the　sound。　　So　sure　was　his　aim　that　he　drove　it　through　the　throat　　of　the　unfortunate　guard；　and　then；　with　a　loud　yell；　bounded　from　　the　camp。　As　I　looked　at　the　partner　of　my　watch；　puffing　and　blowing　over　his　　fire；　it　occurred　to　me　that　he　might　not　prove　the　most　efficient　　auxiliary　in　time　of　trouble。　〃Delorier；〃　said　I；　〃would　you　run　away　if　the　Pawnees　should　fire　at　　us？〃　〃Ah！　oui；　oui；　monsieur！〃　he　replied　very　decisively。　I　did　not　doubt　the　fact；　but　was　a　little　surprised　at　the　frankness　　of　the　confession。　At　this　instant　a　most　whimsical　variety　of　voicesbarks；　howls；　　yelps；　and　whinesall　mingled　as　it　were　together；　sounded　from　the　　prairie；　not　far　off；　as　if　a　whole　conclave　of　wolves　of　every　age　　and　sex　were　assembled　there。　　Delorier　looked　up　from　his　work　with　　a　laugh；　and　began　to　imitate　this　curious　medley　of　sounds　with　a　　most　ludicrous　accuracy。　　At　this　they　were　repeated　with　redoubled　　emphasis；　the　musician　being　apparently　indignant　at　the　successful　　efforts　of　a　rival。　　They　all　proceeded　from　the　throat　of　one　little　　wolf；　not　larger　than　a　spaniel；　seated　by　himself　at　some　distance。　　　He　was　of　the　species　called　the　prairie　wolf；　a　grim…visaged；　but　　harmless　little　brute；　whose　worst　propensity　is　creeping　among　　horses　and　gnawing　the　ropes　of　raw　hide　by　which　they　are　picketed　　around　the　camp。　　But　other　beasts　roam　the　prairies；　far　more　　formidable　in　aspect　and　in　character。　　These　are　the　large　white　and　　gray　wolves；　whose　deep　howl　we　heard　at　intervals　from　far　and　near。　At　last　I　fell　into　a　doze；　and；　awakening　from　it；　found　Delorier　　fast　asleep。　　Scandalized　by　this　breach　of　discipline；　I　was　about　　to　stimulate　his　vigilance　by　stirring　him　with　the　stock　of　my　　rifle；　but　compassion　prevailing；　I　determined　to　let　him　sleep　　awhile；　and　then　to　arouse　him；　and　administer　a　suitable　reproof　for　　such　a　forgetfulness　of　duty。　　Now　and　then　I　walked　the　rounds　among　　the　silent　horses；　to　see　that　all　was　right。　　The　night　was　chill；　　damp；　and　dark；　the　dank　grass　bending　under　the　icy　dewdrops。　　At　　the　distance　of　a　rod　or　two　the　tents　were　invisible；　and　nothing　　could　be　seen　but　the　obscure　figures　of　the　horses；　deeply　　breathing；　and　restlessly　starting　as　they　slept；　or　still　slowly　　champing　the　grass。　　Far　off；　beyond　the　black　outline　of　the　　prairie；　there　was　a